Crimean Tatars again banned from holding a rally

SIMFEROPOL (QHA) -

Crimean authorities has denied the request of Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people to hold an annual rally, dedicated to anniversary of death of the first president of the independent Crimean Republic, Mufti of Crimea Noman Celebicihan.

The Mejlis intended to conduct the event in the territory of Khan’s Palace in Bakhchisaray on Feb 22.

Commenting the authorities’ decision, member of Bakhchisaray Mejlis Ilmi Umerov noted “we should now get used to refusals and seek another forms of struggle for our rights”.

The refusal to conduct a rally comes a week after Bakhchisaray authorities rejected Mejlis’s appeal to conduct a rally to support Mejlis deputy head Akhtem Chiygoz, who was detained on suspicion of “organizing mass disorder”.

On Dec 10, the Mejlis was banned from conducting a rally devoted to the Human Rights Day, celebrated annually all over the world.

To recall, Crimean authorities banned all the mass gatherings in Crimea in May 2014, ahead of the 70th anniversary of deportation of Crimean Tatars. The May 18 rally used to gather tens of thousands of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol central square.